SANTA CRUZ >> A November ballot measure for a soda tax supported by the Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday was trumped Thursday by Gov. Jerry Brown’s signing of AB 1838, a law to prohibit any tax on groceries until 2031.

In a message to the Assembly, Brown said the beverage industry, responding to four cities considering a soda tax, circulated an initiative that if passed would require a two-thirds yes vote on all measures in all 482 cities, alarming mayors in around the state.

“It’s really, really surprising,” said Councilwoman Martine Watkins, who chaired a subcommittee that explored similar taxes in Berkeley, San Francisco and Oakland and recommended a Santa Cruz tax after a January voter survey found that 76 percent supported a 2-cent tax.

The Santa Cruz council voted 5-2 Tuesday to ask voters to approve a tax of 1.5 cents per ounce of sugar-sweetened beverages, up from 1 cent per ounce recommended by the subcommittee. Mayor David Terrazas and Councilwoman Cynthia Mathews voted no, citing the timing.

In a letter sent to the mayor Saturday, Bill Dombrowksi, president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, and Tim James of the California Grocers Association, said they were “shocked” at the lack of outreach to their members.

“One public meeting with 72-hours notice is not enough to properly and publicly vet a tax,” they wrote.

A 1-cent tax was projected to raise $800,000 to $1 million in the first full year for parks, recreation, facilities and wellness programs.

An oversight committee of community stakeholders including health practitioners and representatives from Santa Cruz City Schools and youth organizations, was proposed to recommend where to spend the money and report on impacts.

The tax was to be paid by distributors, not applying to diet soda, and exempting small businesses with gross annual revenues less than $500,000.